Bradman 'sports memorabilia' head to India after failed bid by Oz auction house

Bradman 'sports memorabilia' head to India after failed bid by Oz auction house

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Last Updated: Sun, Dec 16, 2012 07:30 hrs

Precious items and sports memorabilia once owned by cricket legend Don Bradman are now headed to India after an auction failed to capture them, including from the Bradman Museum.

The items, among which were Bradman's 1946 baggy green cap and the bat he used to score 234 in a world record fifth wicket 405-run partnership with Sid Barnes - who also scored 234 - were sold to the foreign buyer at bargain prices.

"It's very disappointing that the top items, including three match-used bats and a Test cap, received absolutely zero interest from our local Bradman Museum, to the point where they couldn't even be bothered coming over to view bats that had never been documented or to see items of historic importance," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Tom Thompson, of Ravenswick Auctions, as saying.

According to the paper, the 1946 bat was expected to attract up to 120,000 dollars but was referred to the buyer at 65,000 dollars, while the baggy green cap was expected to fetch up to 180,000 dollars but sold for 100,000 dollars.

Other items included a bat used by Bradman on a tour of Canada and the US - known as the "Honeymoon Tour" as it followed soon after his marriage to Jessie Menzies - that was expected to attract about 15,000 dollars but sold for 8000 dollars. And a bat Bradman used for NSW and South Australia went for 10,000 dollars, about half what was expected, the paper said.

"The disappointment is that there weren't enough people here and the so-called institution, the Bradman Museum, failed to even sight the things let alone engage with them," Thompson said.

"They were looking to acquire these items about four months ago and had the whole lot valued at under 1 million dollar by independent valuers. They were serious about it then but they're not serious about it when it comes to the party, at effectively lower prices," he added. (ANI)